389. Operation Mallard

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389. Operation Mallard

The province of Zealand played a key role at the end of World War II. From September to early November 1944 the Battle for the Scheldt took place with the goal to open up the ports of Antwerp for the Allied war effort. After a succesfull advance across the Zuid Beveland penisula as part of the operation Vitality , the Canadian Second Division
becomes embroiled in a bitter struggle for the Sloedam Causeway.

To support the stalled offensive of the Second Canadian Infantry Division on the Sloedam Causeway, it is decided to surprise the German units on the Walcheren side by means of a night attack across the water and the mud slabs of the Sloe. During the night of Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd, 1944 Scottish soldiers of the 6th Battalion The Cameronians cross the waters and the mud slabs of the Sloe;2 kilometres south of the Causeway. This secretattack, codenamed operation Mallard, is successful. The Germans do not expect this and have to withdraw. On the Causeway the Second Canadian Infantry Division is able to gain ground and on the 5th of November 5 the Germans give in.